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grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
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Eighteenth Sunday of Pentecost
September 26, 2021
Holy Eucharist, 10:30 am
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Bill Calvert passed away on September 22 at
Bell Tower Senior Living in East Dubuque
There will be a gathering from 5 to 7 PM, Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel. Members of the Grace Church choir will sing. Rev. Gloria will preside at a private family burial at the United Methodist Cemetery in Benton, WI.
May his soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
(The Book of Common Prayer)
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September 26, 2021
The State of Illinois has officially issued a directive for masking at indoor gatherings for all who are two years old or older regardless of inoculation status. Out of concern for those who cannot yet be vaccinated or whose immune systems are compromised, we respectfully request that you comply and wear a mask indoors that covers your nose and mouth.
Our diocese has requested that each church regularly review the CDC map that has
four stages of COVID risk and make decisions accordingly about safety precautions.
Jo Daviess County's risk factor (and that of the entire state of Illinois) is now in the highest category.
The only other precaution reinstated at this time is to suspend contact during the Peace.
Please be cautious and also be prepared for changes at any time.
Social hour is suspended.
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Ministers of the Service
Members & Guests, Celebrants
Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Nancy Cook, Lector
Debbie Kallback, Intercessor
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Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
Lynn Giles, Vestry Coord.
Pat Golden & Charlotte Stryker,
Altar Guild
Amy Hardwicke, Greeter
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Rector's Ramblings
Every now and then, things that are read or stories that are told have common threads that cross over sufficiently to make us sit up and pay attention. Is there a message that I am meant to hear?
This "crossing thread" comes from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's sermon to the House of Bishops this week about reforming the church "in the way of Jesus." In it he described the Roman Empire in the days of early Christianity using images from the movie The Robe with its basiciicas where the Roman dignitaries met and the lavish processionals "that would make an Anglo-Catholic envious" with its Roman insignias and trumpets. And the Church that came to take on the ways of that empire as it became an institution. No longer a church that looked like Jesus, but one that colluded with the empire.
Bp. Curry likens the time we are presently in --the time of uncertainty due to the pandemic--as a "Narthex Moment." We are in a space like the one through which we enter the church for worship--the space that one of his Sunday School teachers called the "in-between" room. It is in-between the world and the church, the sacred and profane--a threshold. A space where transformation is possible.
Now, the "crossing thread" that caught my attention had to do with the Narthex. It reminded me of Grace Church when we debated replacing the inner doors of our Narthex with glass. I recall one member who opposed that change. He said something similar to what Bp. Curry did--about that being a place where one moves from the world to the sacred. And he did not think it was proper to be able to see into the rest of the church before that inner door was open.
I thought there was another possibility--that being able to see through the glass would provide a glimpse of that sacred space that would draw one in, ease that transition and preparation. I don't know who is right.
But I do wonder what would happen if rather than hurrying into the church, we paused in the Narthex, took a deep breath, and opened our hearts and minds in an intentional way to God and to the movement of the Spirit. Might just this simple act help us take a small step to cross that Narthex and become the church that reflects "the reign of God, the beloved community, no longer centered on empire or establishment, no longer fixated on the preservation of institution, no longer propping up white supremacy or in collusion with anything that hurts or harms any child of God or God’s creation – by God’s grace, a church that looks and acts and lives like Jesus." Bishop Curry's sermon: here
See you in church,
Gloria+
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Events this Week:
Sunday 9/26
Holy Eucharist 10:30 am online and in-person
Social Hour suspended at this time.
Ladder to the Light Conversation:
Chapel, after worship
Monday 9/27
Poetry Group 2:00pm
Tuesday 9/28
Outreach Ministries 10 am
Compline online 8:30 pm
Wednesday 9/29
Midweek Worship online and in-person 7:30 am
Morning Study Group on Zoom 10:00 am
Anita Sand's Birthday
Thursday 9/30
Richard Babcock Mem. Yarn Ministry 1:30 pm
Friday 10/1
Centering Prayer online 9:00 am
Terri Jackman's Birthday
Tom Golden's Birthday
Saturday 10/2
Choir Practice 10 am
Important Links:
Office Hours
9:00am-Noon, Tuesday through Friday
Rector Office Hours
10:30am-3:00pm Tuesday through Thursday
Mondays and other times by appointment
ROTA (6-6-21 to 10-31-21)
Website: includes a password protected members' portal where most recent Vestry minutes, financials, and Grace Church Directory are found.
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SEARCH COMMITTEE - The CAT Survey is here!
The Search committee wants everyone to complete The CAT Survey.
This CAT is the Congregation Assessment Tool - the first of two important ways for our congregation to participate in the process of searching for a new Rector. On September 20th the CAT was made available - online to those who can access it that way, and by mail for those who cannot. Completing this takes a relatively small amount of time; the search committee members will be available if you have questions about it.
If you did not receive the special e-Blast with the link to the CAT, please check your e-mail spam or promotion boxes or contact the church office.
October 6th is the date we need to have the completed forms from everyone. The results will be compiled and reported back to the Search Committee and the Vestry approximately a week later.
The congregation’s second opportunity for involvement in the search process will be by discussion in small groups. Almost without exception those who’ve been through the small group phase report it very interesting and rewarding. We’ll have more information for you on this as we approach the time of the meeting.
Should you have questions about information provided here, or about the search process please call Steve Coates (563.581.6515) or Pete Stryker (312.504.8268) or any member of the Search Committee.
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Steve Coates,
Co-chair of the Rector Search Committee's "Ministry Moment on 9/12/21.
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FALL SERIES: CONVERSATIONS ON FAITH WITH
STEVEN CHARLESTON'S LADDER TO THE LIGHT
Ladder to the Light Conversations with the Rector continues on Sundays in the Chapel shortly after the end of worship .
If you are interested in attending this series but did not previously respond, you may contact the church office for the details and information about the book by Bp. Steven Charleston. This retired Episcopal bishop and elder in the Choctaw nation brings wisdom from these traditions to spiritual growth.
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GRACE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
A communications team has been appointed to oversee the news and promotion of church events in our social media. Teresa Burke and Joy Von Wolffersdorff will work with the Rector and Parish Administrator to coordinate communications. Elizabeth Ludescher is presently the Vestry Liaison to the team. When her term on Vestry is completed in January, she will continue as a member of the team.
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OUTREACH MINISTRY NEWS--9/26/21
It's Red Bag time! For the last year Outreach did not do the
Grace Church biannual red bag drive but this September we are supporting the United Churches of Galena Food Pantry with their need of feminine hygiene products. Red bags were passed out on Sunday, September 6th. A list of suggested items were in each bag. Please return the filled bags by Sunday, September 26th.
Checks are also appreciated. You are always so very generous and your help is truly appreciated. Thank you!
Your Outreach Ministries
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VESTRY NEWS-DELEGATES FOR THE 184th DIOCESAN CONVENTION
On Saturday, November 20, 2021 the Convention will convene on Zoom between 9 am and 3 pm. Delegates representing Grace will be Larry Poston, Terri Jackman, and Teresa Burke. Richard Luther will serve as the alternate. Convention is the annual business meeting of the diocese, during which we elect leaders, consider resolutions and hear reports from across the diocese and the wider church.
Convention updates, including information and a preliminary schedule, will be posted.
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EPISCOPAL CHURCH & DIOCESAN NEWS
Anglicans urge G7 vaccine share
An Anglican Communion-wide coalition of churches, medical professionals and development agencies have issued a challenge to the G7 group of wealthy nations to urgently find ways to channel their vaccination surplus to countries that cannot afford to vaccinate their people.
The Anglican Communion’s Health and Community Network has joined with Anglican Alliance – whose members live and work in development in some of the world’s poorest nations – to ask the governments of G7 countries to convene an emergency G7 meeting to tackle the problem of wealthy nations hoarding and discarding Covid-19 vaccine supplies. The full article: vaccine
Presiding Bishop among 12 faith leaders in White House meeting on bills supporting families, workers
[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joined 11 other faith leaders representing the ecumenical advocacy group Circle of Protection during a Sept. 22 visit to the White House to advocate for passage of legislation supporting families, workers and citizens.
Circle of Protection includes leaders from a wide range of denominations, including Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Disciples of Christ and Quaker. Curry was one of 20 leaders who signed the group’s letter to President Joe Biden and members of Congress specifically urging passage of three bills focused on investing in infrastructure, supporting families and strengthening voting rights.
“There’s a moral high ground that these bills have an opportunity to meet,” Curry said after the meeting in a news conference outside the White House. “That moral high ground is to make sure that the people most in need are cared for, and the symbol of our deepest need is our children. … That’s we stand for regardless of our religion, and that’s what this country stands for at our very best.” Full article: families
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FELLOWSHIP NEWS
SOCIAL HOUR SUSPENDED
Coffee and conversation has been suspended due to COVID.
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We are a group that studies spiritual subjects, including the Bible. All are welcome to join us to enhance their knowledge of spirituality and explore how to apply it to their lives. Currently we are studying the Gospel of Luke. Meetings (in the Parish Hall and on Zoom) begin at 10:00 a.m.
(Those in the Parish Hall need to wear a mask.)
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Compline on Zoom
On Tuesday evenings, at 8:30 pm, Lynn Giles will lead a service of Compline. She has been participating in the service that has previously been offered to the Diocese of Chicago by St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. This service of the Daily Office in our Book of Common Prayer is a brief, contemplative service that is ideal for prayerful letting go of the cares of the day and preparing for a restful night. Find the link button above.
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MEDITATIVE PRAYER 9:00am on Fridays
Looking for a way to improve your prayer life, to open your heart, mind and soul to the Holy Spirit? Consider joining the Centering Prayer Group Friday mornings for about forty minutes of meditative prayer: twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by Lectio Divina.
Contact Greg Serwich (gserwich@gmail.com) for a Zoom invitation which includes a description of these types of prayer.
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WORSHIP:
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-2This alternative version of the famous incident when God’s people rebelled in the wilderness (c.f. Exodus 16) says they got bored with manna and longed for meat they had eaten in Egypt. But in this version, seventy elders who helped Moses lead the people are gathered together when “the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied.” But they prophesied on just this one occasion. However, two others, Eldad and Medad, who had stayed in the camp, continued to prophesy among the people. When reports got back to Moses about Eldad and Meded, his assistant, Joshua, insisted that Moses stop them. But Moses questioned his jealousy. Moses then expressed his longing for a time when “all the Lord’s people were prophets….”
Psalm 19:7-14 This excerpt extols the Lord’s teaching/covenant/commandments/judgement as more pure than gold and sweeter than honey.
James 5:13-20 Consistent with the rest of this “letter” attributed to “James,” this excerpt equates faith with action. He lists specific actions that unite the community of believers. In particular, he writes that the “elders of the church should go to the sick, pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.” He commends prayers and confession, too. Finally, he encourages them to seek out members who have wandered away from the community.
Mark 9:38-50 The flow of Mark’s narrative seems to be interrupted by some issues that would have been urgent in the early church, specifically, what to do about those functioning in the name of Jesus who have no direct connection to the original disciples (such as Paul?). Mark writes that Jesus replied, “whoever gives a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.” Mark then supplies severe warnings against anyone who leads “these little ones” (new Christians?) astray. Other miscellaneous issues are taken up and conclude with an aphorism: “salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness how can you season [with] it?” Be salty and “be at peace with one another.”
Today’s readings, the striking response by Jesus in Mark’s narrative and the entire “Letter of James” serve as an antidote to that tendency towards abstraction, conceptualizations and the intermediaries that grow around all that and come between biblical directness and us. Mostly in narrative, but also in song and poetry, the Bible relays the message of God’s staggering love and its corollary commandment that we are to love God and others in return. But it also, always, insists that at some point words become action; indeed, action is the equivalent for the words of faith. Whether the act is as bold and deserving of memorial as Esther’s or as mundane as as a glass of water given in Christ’s name, the words do not exist for themselves. They originated because some action was taken and they find their fulfillment only when like similar actions are taken. Anyone can perform them. And, they are the only true test of discerning an authentic actor in God’s name. “Whoever gives a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ….”
thumbnails and commentary from sacraconversazione.org
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HELP WANTED!:
An apprentice to work with Zoom at Grace Church.
This is an important part of our Worship Ministry, and more people are needed to keep our live online services coming! It may seem very complicated, but those of us who have been handling it for nearly a year now all had to start from very basic computer skills and learn "on the job." If we have a small team, the responsibilities can be rotated, making it easier for all of us--and making it possible to explore better ways to assure the best audio and visual experience for those worshiping in person and those online.
Please contact Lynn Giles if interested and for more information.
lynngiles@lynngilesphotography.com
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ZOOM POETRY GROUP 2:00pm on Mondays
A Zoom Poetry meeting from Grace Church has been organized and meets Mondays at 2:00pm. This is not specifically a Grace ministry, but a number of Grace members and friends are part of it If you are interested, write Carol Poston at poston@sxu.edu or call her at 815-777-0220.
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A Wednesday Episcopal service of Morning Prayer 9/22/21: Celebration of Bp. Philander Chase, the first Episcopal Bishop of Illinois who dedicated Grace Church in April, 1850. Morning Prayer officiant and homilist, Lynn Giles.
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An Episcopal service of Holy Eucharist 9/12/21: "Who do you say I am?" An Episcopal service of Holy Eucharist: The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider; The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Donna Davis, Intercessor; Steve Coates, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Nancy Cook, Melanie Hoffman, and Phil Jackman: Instrumental Soloists; Lynn Giles, Zoom Host.
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An Episcopal Service of Holy Eucharist 9/19/21, "The Last Shall Be First" Episcopal service of Holy Eucharist: The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider; Elizabeth Ludescher, Intercessor; Greg Serwich, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Nancy Cook, Erben Organist; Lynn Giles, Zoom Host.
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Hybrid worship has resumed for both in-person and Zoom congregations in line with Diocesan guidelines and Phase 5 of the State of Illinois COVID recovery.
For those present in the Church:
Please put your smartphone or other device in airplane mode so that our
internet capacity is reserved for our online streaming.
Don't forget to wear your mask if you intend to sing!
For those on Zoom:
Please mute yourselves before the Prelude begins and immediately after the Peace. This prevents other participants on Zoom from being distracted by conversation
and background noise.
Those who will join us on Zoom will receive the usual e-mail invitation with a link to the day's bulletin.
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Vestry:
Lynn Giles, Senior Warden
Richard Luther, Jr. Warden
Jim Berry, Treasurer
Crystal Mason, Clerk
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
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Staff:
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
The Rev. Linda Packard, Priest Associate
The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Nancy Kenney, Parish Administrator
Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
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Charlotte Stryker: Worship
Elizabeth Ludescher: Communications
Nancy Cook: Outreach
Eric Kallback: Building & Grounds
Crystal Mason: Pastoral Care
Phil Jackman: Fellowship/Parish Life
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The Rev Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
Cell Phone: 773-988-3497
Grace Episcopal Church Office:
107 S. Prospect Street
Galena, IL 61036
815-777-2590
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